Brittain, Vera, Diary, 6-7 August 1914

00000285.jpg
Description: 
Diary of Vera Brittain

Tabs

Case Study: 
From Youth to Experience: Vera Brittain’s Work for Peace in Two World Wars
Creator: 
Brittain, Vera
Source: 
diary
Date: 
6-7 August 1914
Collection/Fonds: 
Contributer: 
McMaster University Libraries
Rights: 
Vera Brittain estate; McMaster University has a non-exclusive licence to publish this document.

Identifier: 
00000285
Language: 
eng
Type: 
image
Format: 
jpg
Transcript: 

.... is said to have replied by declaring war on Germany. In Belgium the Germans, [?]ented by their repulse, have burnt the village of Vise & fired upon civilians.
To-Day I started the only work it seems possible as yet for women to do – the making of garments for the soldiers. I started knitting sleeping-helmets, and as I have forgotten how to knit, & was not very brilliant when I knew, I seemed to be an object of some amusement. But even when one is not skilful it is better to proceed slowly than to do nothing to help.
Friday August 7th
This morning came the somewhat depressing news that the British cruiser H.M.S. Amphion, which sunk the German liner Königen Luise, ran into a mine & was blown up. 131 men were drowned + 158, including Captain Fox, saved. The information cast a gloom over breakfast, during which meal Daddy worked himself into a thorough temper, raved away at us, & said he would not allow Edward to go abroad whatever happened. ‘Whatever you do don’t volunteer until you’re quite sure there’s no danger,’ sort of thing. Edward replied quite calmly that no one could prevent him serving his country in any way he wanted to.
The Belgian fortress of Liège is still holding out, though it is very hard pressed. 25000 Belgians are holding it against a reinforcement of 100,000 Germans. The opposition is a serious hindrance to Germany who reckoned on storming Liège with scarcely any trouble. All day long I knitted away. Various reports kept coming in of battles, different dreadnoughts being sunk, multitudes of Germans being killed, but none of them were confirmed. Maurice & Edward wandered about all day waiting for an answer & at last they got it. Just at dinner time Mrs Goodman came to see us & said that she had heard from her husband – who is a Territorial officer at